Passive fire protection

Passive fire protection (PFP) is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire resistant walls, floors, and doors (amongst other examples). PFP systems must comply with the associated Listing and approval use and compliance in order to provide the effectiveness expected by building codes.

tructural fire protection

Fire protection in a building, offshore facility or a ship, is a system that includes:
*Active fire protection, which can include manual or automatic fire detection and fire suppression.
*Passive fire protection, which includes compartmentalisation of the overall building through the use of fire-resistance rated walls and floors. Organization into smaller fire compartments, consisting of one or more rooms or floors, prevents or slows the spread of fire from the room of fire origin to other building spaces, limiting building damage and providing more time to the building occupants for emergency evacuation or to reach an area of refuge.
*Fire prevention includes minimizing ignition sources, as well as educating the occupants and operators of the facility, ship or structure concerning operation and maintenance of fire related systems for correct function, and emergency procedures including notification for fire service response and emergency evacuation.

Main characteristics

The aim for passive fire protection systems is typically demonstrate in fire testing the ability to maintain the item or the side to be protected at or below either 140°C (for walls, floors and electrical circuits required to have a fire-resistance rating) or ca. 550°C, which is considered the critical temperature for structural steel, above which, it is in jeopardy of losing its strength, leading to collapse. This is based, in most countries, on the basic test standards for walls and floors, such as [http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/DATABASE.CART/REDLINE_PAGES/E119.htm?L+mystore+nxjg6699 ASTM E119] . Smaller components, such as fire dampers, fire doors, etc., follow suit in the main intentions of the basic standard for walls and floors. Fire testing involves live fire exposures upwards of 1100°C, depending on the fire-resistance rating and duration one is after. More items than just fire exposures are typically required to be tested to ensure the survivability of the system under realistic conditions.

To accomplish these aims, many different types of materials are employed in the design and construction of systems. For instance, common endothermic building materials include concrete and gypsum wallboard. During fire testing of concrete floor slabs, water can be seen to boil out of a slab. Gypsum wall board typically loses all its strength during a fire. The use of endothermic materials is established and proven to be sound engineering practice. The chemically bound water inside these materials sublimes. During this process, the unexposed side cannot exceed the boiling point of water. Once the hydrates are spent, the temperature on the unexposed side of an endothermic fire barrier tends to rise rapidly. Too much water can be a problem, however. Concrete slabs that are too wet, [http://www.promat-tunnel.com/en/concrete-spalling-effect-standard-fire-tests.aspx will literally explode in a fire] , which is why test laboratories insist on measuring water content of concrete and mortar in fire test specimens, before running any fire tests. PFP measures can also include intumescents and ablative materials. The point is, however, that whatever the nature of the materials, they on their own bear no rating. They must be organised into systems, which bear a rating when installed in accordance with certification listings or established catalogues, such as DIN 4102 Part 4 or the Canadian National Building Code.

Passive Fire Protection measures are intended to contain a fire in the fire compartment of origin, thus limiting the spread of fire and smoke for a limited period of time, as determined the local building code and fire code. Passive fire protection measures, such as firestops, fire walls, and fire doors, are tested to determine the fire resistance rating of the final assembly, usually expressed in terms of hours of fire resistance (e.g., 1/3, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 3, 4 hr.). A certification listing provides the limitations of the rating.

Contrary to active fire protection measures, "passive" fire protection means do not typically require electric or electronic activation or a degree of motion. Exceptions to that particular rule of thumb are fire dampers (fire-resistive closures within air ducts, excluding grease ducts) and fire door closers, which "must" move, open and shut in order to work, as well as all intumescent [http://www.geocities.com/ghering2000/intumescent_article.html] products, which swell, thus move, in order to function.

PFP in a building can be described as a group of systems within systems. An installed firestop, for instance, is a system that is based upon a product certification listing. It forms part of a fire-resistance rated wall or floor and this wall or floor forms part of a fire compartment, which forms an integral part of the overall fire safety plan of the building, which, as a whole, can also be seen as a system.

Examples

*fire-resistance rated walls
*"'Firewalls not only have a rating, they are also designed to sub-divide buildings such that if collapse occurs on one side, this will not affect the other side. They can also be used to eliminate the need for sprinklers, as a trade-off.
*fire-resistance rated floors
*occupancy separations (barriers designated as occupancy separations are intended to segregate parts of buildings, where different uses are on each side; For instance, apartments on one side and stores on the other side of the occupancy separation.
*closures (fire dampers, fire-resistance rated windows and fire doors. Sometimes firestops are treated in building codes identically to closures. Canada de-rates closures, where, for instance a 2 h closure is acceptable for use in a 3 h fire separation, so long as the fire separation is not an occupancy separation or firewall. The lowered rating is then referred to as a "fire protection rating", both for firestops, unless they contain plastic pipes and regular closures.)
*firestops
*grease ducts (These refer to ducts that lead from commercial cooking equipment such as ranges, deep fryers and double decker and conveyor equipped pizza ovens to grease duct fans. In North America, grease ducts are made of minimum 16 gauge sheet metal, all welded, and certified openings for cleaning, whereby the ducting is either inherently manufactured to have a specific fire-resistance rating, OR it is ordinary 16 gauge ductwork with an exterior layer of purpose-made and certified fireproofing. Either way, North American grease ducts must comply with NFPA96 requirements.)
*cable coating (application of fire-retardants, which are either endothermic or intumescent, to reduce flamespread and smoke development of combustible cable-jacketing)
*spray fireproofing (application of intumescent or endothermic paints, or fibrous or cementitious plasters to keep substrates such as structural steel, electrical or mechanical services, valves, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, vessel skirts, bulkheads or decks below either 140 °C for electrical items or ca. 500 °C for structural steel elements to maintain operability of the item to be protected)
*fireproofing cladding (boards used for the same purpose and in the same applications as spray fireproofing) Materials for such cladding include perlite, vermiculite, calcium silicate, gypsum, intumescent epoxy, DuraSteel (cellulose-fibre reinforced concrete and punched sheet-metal bonded composite panels), MicroTherm
*enclosures (boxes or wraps made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive wraps and tapes to protect speciality valves and other items deemed to require protection against fire and heat - an analogy for this would be a safe) or the provision of circuit integrity measures to keep electrical cables operational during an accidental fire.

Regulations

The most important goal of PFP is identical to that of all fire protection: life safety. This is mainly accomplished by maintaining structural integrity for a time during the fire, and limiting the spread of fire and the effects thereof (e.g., heat and smoke). Property protection and continuity of operations are usually secondary objectives in codes. Exceptions include nuclear facilities and marine applications, as evacuation may be more complex or impossible. Nuclear facilities, both buildings and ships, must also ensure the nuclear reactor [http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/fire-protection.html does not experience] a nuclear meltdown. In this case, fixing the reactor may be more important than evacuation for key safety personnel.

Examples of testing that underlies certification listing:

*Netherlands: NEN 6068
*Germany: DIN 4102
*United Kingdom: BS 476
*Canada: ULC-S101
*United States: ASTM E119

Each of these test procedures have very similar fire endurance regimes and heat transfer limitations. Differences include the hose-stream tests, which are unique to Canada and the United States, whereas [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandwand Germany includes] a very rigorous impact test during the fire for firewalls. Germany is unique in including heat induced expansion and [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
] into account for firestops, resulting in the favouring of firestop mortars, which tend to hold the penetrating cable tray in place, whereas "softseals", typically made of rockwool and elastomeric toppings, have been demonstrated in testing by [http://www.mpa.uni-stuttgart.de/organisation/fb_1/fb_1.html Otto-Graf_institut] to be torn open and rendered inoperable when the cable tray expands, pushes in and then collapses. Spin-offs from these basic tests cover closures, firestops and more. Furnace operations, thermocoupling and reporting requirements remain uniform within each country.

In exterior applications for the offshore and the petroleum sectors, the fire endurance testing uses a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
] , whereas in interior applications, such as office buildings, factories and residential, the fire endurance is based upon experiences gained from burning wood. The interior fire time/temperature curve is referred to as "ETK" [http://www.bauwerk-verlag.de/baulexikon/index.shtml?EINHEITS-TEMPERATUR-KURVE.HTM (Einheitstemperaturkurve = Standard time/temperature curve)] or the "building elements" curve, whereas the high temperature variety is called the hydrocarbon curve as it is based on burning oil and gas products, which burn hotter and faster. The most severe, and most rarely used, of all fire exposure tests is the British [http://www.sintef.no/content/page1____4857.aspx "jetfire" test] , which has been used to some extent in the UK and Norway but is not typically found in common regulations.

Typically, during the construction of buildings, fire protective systems must [http://www.dbh.govt.nz/building-code-compliance-documents conform to the requirements] of building code that was in effect on the day that the building permit was applied for. [http://www.miamidade.gov/buildingcode/ Enforcement for compliance with building codes] is typically the responsibility of municipal building departments. Once construction is complete, the building must maintain its design basis by remaining in compliance with the current fire code, which is [http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/firtmpl.asp?url=/content/firerescue/firecode/index.asp enforced by the fire prevention officers] of the municipal fire department. An up to date [http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part050/part050-0048.html fire protection plan] , containing a complete inventory and maintenance details of all fire protection components, including firestops, fireproofing, fire sprinklers, fire detectors, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, etc. are typical requirements for demonstration of compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In order to know whether or not one's building is in compliance with fire safety regulations, it is helpful to know what systems one has in place and what their installation and maintenance are based upon.

Changes to fire protection systems or items affecting the structural or fire-integrity or use (occupancy) of a building is subject to regulatory scrutiny. A contemplated change to a facility [http://www.toronto.ca/building/pop_permit.htm requires a building permit] , or, if the change is very minor, a review by the local fire prevention officer. Such reviews by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) also help to prevent potential problems that may not be apparent to a building owner or contractors. Large and very [http://td.ci.columbus.oh.us/NeighborhoodsandResidents/Code_Enforcement/code_common_violations.asp common deficiencies] in existing buildings include the disabling of fire door closers through propping the doors open and running rugs through them and perforating fire-resistance rated walls and floors without proper firestopping. Example [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Building_code_violations pictures of code violations can be seen here.]

Common, accredited product certification and testing organisations

*Europe:-Testing: [http://www.efectis.com/ Efectis]

*Netherlands:-Testing: [http://www.efectis.nl/ Efectis Nederland]

*Germany:-Testing: [http://www.ibmb.tu-bs.de/ iBMB/ TU Braunschweig] -Testing: [http://www.bam.de/index_en.htm BAM Berlin] -Testing: [http://www.mpanrw.de/start.html MPA Dortmund]

-Certification: Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik [http://dibt.de/ (DIBt)]
*Canada: [http://www.ulc.ca/ Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC)]
*United States: Underwriters Laboratories, FM Global

"Old" versus "New"

Generally, one differentiates between "old" and "new" barrier systems. "Old" systems have been tested and verified by governmental authorities including DIBt [http://www.dibt.de] , the British Standards Institute (BSI) and the National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction [http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/index_e.html] . These organisations each publish in codes and standards, wall and floor assembly details that can be used with generic, standardised components, to achieve quantified fire-resistance ratings. Architects routinely refer to these details in drawings to enable contractors to build passive fire protection barriers of certain ratings. The "old" systems are sometimes added to, through testing performed in governmental laboratories such as those maintained by Canada's Institute for Research in Construction, which then publishes the results in Canada's National Building Code (NBC). Germany [http://www.bundesregierung.de/] and the UK, by comparison, publish their "old" systems in respective standards, [http://www.nabau.din.de/cmd?artid=2243751&contextid=nabau&bcrumblevel=1&subcommitteeid=54751683&level=tpl-art-detailansicht&committeeid=54738847&languageid=de DIN4102 Part 4] (Germany) and BS476 (United Kingdom). "New" systems are typically based on certification listings, whereby the installed configuration must comply with the tolerances set out in the certification listing. The United Kingdom is an exception to this, whereby certification, although not testing, is optional.

Countries where certification is optional

Fire tests in the UK are reported in the form of test results, but contrary to North America and Germany, building authorities do not require written proof that the materials that have been installed on site are actually identical to the materials and products that were used in the test. The test report is also often interpreted by engineers, as the test results are not communicated in the form of uniformly structured listings. In the UK, and other countries which do not require certification, the proof that the manufacturer has not substituted other materials apart from those used in the original testing is based on trust in the ethics or the culpability of the manufacturer. While in North America and in Germany, product certification is the key to the success and legal defensibility of passive fire protection barriers, alternate quality control certifications of specific installation companies and their work is "available", though not a legislative or regulatory requirement. Still, the question of how one can be sure, apart from faith in the vendor, that what was tested is identical to that which has been bought and installed is a matter of personal judgment. The most highly publicised example of PFP systems which were not subject of certification and were declared "inoperable" by the Authority Having Jurisdiction is the Thermo-Lag scandal, which was brought to light by whistleblower Gerald W. Brown, who notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the inadequacy of fire testing for circuit integrity measures in use in licensed nuclear power plants. This led to a congressional enquiry, significant press coverage and a large amount of remedial work on the part of the industry to mitigate the problem. There is no known case a similar instance for PFP systems which were under the follow-up regime of organisations holding national accreditation for product certification, such as [http://www.dibt.de/ DIBt] or Underwriters Laboratories.

ee also

*Authority Having Jurisdiction
*Pressurisation ductwork
*Smoke exhaust ductwork
*Grease duct
*Fire test
*Compartmentalisation
*Endothermic
*Firestop
*Fireproofing
*Mortar (firestop)
*Fire door
*Intumescent
*Firestop pillow
*Drywall
*Active fire protection
*Fire protection
*Fire protection engineering
*Fire-resistance rating
*Gerald W. Brown
*Circuit integrity

External links

* [http://www.eapfp.com/ European Association for Passive Fire Protection]
* [http://www.gba-brandschutz.de/ Gütegemeinschaft Brandschutz im Ausbau (German PFP Association)]
* [http://pfpf.org/ Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF)]
** [http://pfpf.org/pfpf_definition.htm PFPF definition of passive fire protection]
* [http://www.firestop.org/ International Firestop Council]
* [http://www.fcia.org/ Firestop Contractors International Association]
* [http://www.l-com.com/multimedia/video_clips/video.aspx?ID=13100 Videos showing flammability of cables based on jacket rating]
* [http://www.safety-procedures.com.au Fire Protection Safety Procedures]
* [http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeasfire.htm Treatise on Active and Passive Fire Protection from UK Government]